This isn’t a to-do list. It is a could-do list.
A gentle collection of seasonal ideas, little celebrations and simple pleasures to dip into throughout July if they appeal to you. No pressure. No expectations. Just possibilities.
July feels like standing on the edge of summer with your toes in the sand and an ice cream melting faster than you can eat it. School plays are being rehearsed, teachers are counting down the days, and families are preparing for the long-awaited summer holidays.
Whether you’re still juggling packed lunches and sports days or already enjoying slower mornings and later bedtimes, July offers plenty of opportunities to notice the season and make memories along the way.
Here are a few things you could do this month.
Celebrate the End of the School Year
For many families, July marks the end of another school year.
You could:
- Write thank-you cards for teachers, teaching assistants and support staff.
- Create a memory jar filled with favourite moments from the school year.
- Take a photograph on the last day of term.
- Compare it with the first day photo from September.
- Celebrate surviving another year of packed lunches and homework.
- Mark the start of the holidays with a family tradition.
Make the Most of the Long Evenings
July evenings seem to stretch forever.
You could:
- Eat dinner outside.
- Watch the sunset from somewhere special.
- Take an evening walk by the sea or through the woods.
- Enjoy a garden picnic.
- Stay up late enough to spot the first stars appearing.
- Play outdoor games after dinner.
Enjoy Wimbledon
The strawberries and cream season arrives once again.
You could:
- Watch a match together.
- Hold your own family tennis tournament.
- Eat strawberries and cream.
- Make paper plate tennis rackets for younger children.
- Learn about the history of Wimbledon.
Watch the Tour de France
Even if cycling isn’t usually your thing, the scenery alone is worth watching.
You could:
- Follow the route on a map.
- Learn about the different jerseys.
- Hold your own family bike ride challenge.
- Decorate bicycles with ribbons and streamers.
Celebrate World Chocolate Day – 7 July
An important date for many households.
You could:
- Bake chocolate brownies. Try our The Ultimate Kinder Bueno Brownies: Irresistibly Gooey and Delicious
- Hold a chocolate taste test.
- Make hot chocolate ice lollies.
- Try a chocolate-themed scavenger hunt.
Mark World Emoji Day – 17 July
You could:
- Create emoji crafts.
- Design your own family emojis.
- Write stories using only emojis as prompts.
- Play emoji charades.
Celebrate International Chess Day – 20 July
Perfect for families embracing quieter activities.
You could:
- Learn the rules of chess together.
- Hold a family tournament.
- Create giant outdoor chess pieces with chalk.
- Explore famous chess players and matches.
Explore Nature
July is one of the best months to get outdoors.
You could:
- Go butterfly spotting.
- Join in with the Big Butterfly Count.
- Listen for bees buzzing in the garden.
- Press flowers for crafts later in the year.
- Create nature mandalas.
- Learn the names of local wildflowers.
- Go cloud watching.
Visit a Pick Your Own Farm
July is peak berry season.
You could pick:
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Gooseberries
- Cherries
- Blackcurrants
Then enjoy turning your haul into crumbles, jams and desserts.
Look Out for Sunflowers
Sunflowers begin appearing across the country during July.
You could:
- Visit a sunflower field.
- Grow your own.
- Measure your sunflower every week.
- Paint or draw sunflowers inspired by famous artworks. Check out our Intricate Sunflower Colouring Page • Free Printable for Relaxation.
- Check out our Sunflower crafts.
Celebrate National Picnic Month
Picnics don’t need to be elaborate.
You could:
- Take breakfast outdoors.
- Pack lunch for the local park.
- Have an indoor picnic if the weather refuses to cooperate.
- Try a themed picnic with food from another country.
Get Creative
Summer crafts are often the simplest.
You could:
- Paint pebbles. Simple Rock Painting Ideas for Kids: Fun and Creative Crafts for Little Artists
- Make sun catchers.
- Create tie-dye t-shirts.
- Try ice painting.
- Make bubble snakes.
- Build fairy gardens.
- Create leaf prints.
Cool Down on Hot Days
If July decides to bring a heatwave, you could:
- Set up a paddling pool.
- Freeze toys or flowers in ice blocks for sensory play.
- Have a water balloon fight.
- Make homemade ice lollies.
- Create an obstacle course involving water challenges.
Watch for the Perseids
The Perseid meteor shower begins in late July and continues through August.
You could:
- Stay up late with blankets and hot drinks.
- Learn about constellations.
- Use a stargazing app to identify planets.
- Count shooting stars.
Celebrate International Friendship Day – 30 July
You could:
- Write letters to friends.
- Make friendship bracelets.
- Deliver surprise treats to neighbours.
- Organise a playdate or family get together.
Read Outside
Books somehow feel different outdoors.
You could:
- Create an outdoor reading nook.
- Visit your local library for holiday reads.
- Listen to an audiobook in the garden.
- Read under a tree.
Say Yes to Small Adventures
Summer doesn’t have to mean expensive days out or packed schedules.
You could:
- Catch an early morning sunrise.
- Explore somewhere new in your local area.
- Follow a path simply to see where it leads.
- Have dessert before dinner.
- Stay in your pyjamas until lunchtime.
- Watch the clouds drift overhead.
And Finally…
Remember this is a could-do list, not a should-do list.
Some Julys are filled with adventures and day trips. Others are slower and quieter.
Both are enough.
Pick the ideas that make you smile, ignore the ones that don’t and leave plenty of room for the unexpected moments that often become the memories we treasure most.
What could you do this July?